Wire-stretching device



s t. 20- 1921. 1643199 ep LLE. CLEMENCET WIRE STRETCHING DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Zou/z s wjena [/e'men 6e 2 ATTO RN EY Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE-.1

WIRE-STRETCHING DEVICE.

Application filed November 6,1925, Serial No. 67,301, and in France November 15, 1924.

The present invention relates to stretching devices; and its object, stated briefly, is to provide an improved'device for readily and effectively stretching and tightening threads, wires, ropes, cables and other flexible elements of like character, regardless of their material, which can be mounted instantly thereon without requiring "any splicing or fastening.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a stretching device constructed according-to the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are, respectively, a plan view and a side view thereof; I

Fig. 4 is a view taken from the opposite side;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section 011 line 5 5', Fig. 1

Fig. 6 is a view showing the stretcher previous to its hooks being engaged with the material to be stretched; v

Fig. 7 is a view showing one'hook being engaged, and Fig. 8 showsthe engagement of the other hook;

Fig. 9 is a view showing the stretching device with both hooks engaged;

Figs. 10 and 11 are cross-sections on lines 1010 and 11-11, respectively, of Fig. 9.

The improved stretching device consists of a single metal strip or part A that is bent to form an open, rectangular or annular member or loop a, the two branches 6 and c of which are arranged in such a way that one of them (branch 0., for example) passes in front of the other branch Z) and then curves away from it to form the branch proper; said branches leaving some clearance between them. As willbe apparent from Fig. 4, the branches are, in fact, wound one-quarter of a turn over each other, and are provided with terminal hooks d and d for engagement with the wire B or other flexible element to be stretched.

To facilitate positioning, and to permit the stretching device to be rotated, the arms or portions of the branches 6 and 0 located above loop a are inclined upwardly away from the loop at an angle to the horizontal, and extend in such directions as virtually to occupy a common vertical plane towhich the plane of the loop is perpendicular; the terminal hooks cl and d on said arms or branches thus being so disposed as to normally clear the wire. Hence, the latter can readily be passed between the arms or branches and a'stick C or the-like then inserted through the loop a, whereafter the device can be turned in the direction of arrow 7 by means of such stick or lever, thereby winding the wire around it, as will be understood from Fig. 6. This winding of the wire will. of course, have the effect of exerting tension upon the two portions thereof at opposite sides of the device in the direction of arrows m and m and, in consequence, of stretching the wire.

The device can then be locked to the wire" to maintain the latter in taut condition, byconnecting the hooks thereto; and to effect this, the stick or handle C is first raised or moved upward in the direction of arrow V '(Fig. 7), thereby tilting the device so as to engage thehook d of arm c'with the wire. I

Thereafter the stick is swung downward in the direction of arrow V (Fig. 8), which tilts the device clockwise and secures the hook d of arm 6 or, if preferred, this movenientcan be obtained by withdrawing the.

stick from loop a and re-inserting it from the opposite side, andthen raising it, as indicated by arrow V and the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 shows the device secured to the wire.

The engagement of the hooks with the wire is facilitated by positioning the loop a in a plane which is perpendicular to the vertical plane wherein both arms I) and c vir tually lie, as has already been stated, because the stick or other operating element C will likewise occupy such vertical plane,'as will be understood. Furthermore, the stick, instead of being engaged at its end only with the loop, may be inserted therethrough up to its central portion and then grasped and operated from either end or from: both ends; and if preferred, the loop may be manipulated by means of a wrench or other suitable gripping element which is directly engaged with it, inplace of the stick or handle C. Also, while it is preferred to wind the two arms over each other merely to the extent of a quarter-turn, they may be wound an amount which is a multiple of a quarterturn provided, of course, that the plane of the loop maintains its perpendicular disposition with relation to the plane of said arms.

Due to the inclination of arms 6 and 0, as above described, both hooks d and d will be clear of the wire during the actual stretching operation; whereas, after one hook (d, for instance) has been engaged with the wire at the COUL'lUSlUli of said cn icratioin there will he no danger of that hook becoming detached. while the other hook is being engaged (Figs. 6, T and 8). It is also advisable to arrai'ige both hooks (or either of them) ata slant to the axis of rotation o't loop a; but it will he sullicient it the tree arms X and X of the hooks slant and in either case the amount or degree of slant may *ary, Fig. 5 showingin dotted lines a hook (Z whose l'rce arm X is perpendicin lar to the plane of rotation of the loop. Finally. it is possible to further decrease the liability o'l one hook hecoming; disengaged during the tltltlClll'llOllt ot the other hook to the wirc-particularly if the hooks are straight and only their tree arms slant-- by making the tree arm of one hook longer than that of: the other hook, in which case the hook with the longer arm will be engaged first. Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate this feature, the tree arm X of hook 01 (Fig. 11) havinp a length greater by the ax'l'iount- 7 (Fig; 10) than the arm X of hook (1'.

Claims:

I. A stretching device for wires and the like. con'iprising a metal strip hent upon itself to form an open central loop wluerehy it may he rotated. and a pair of arms branching from such loop and wound over each other at their inner ends; said arms extending upnnrdl away from the loop at an angle to the horizontal and in such directions as virtually to occupy a common vertical plane to which the plane of the loop is perpendicular; both arms having hooks at their free outer ends for engagement at the same time with the wire.

2. A stretching device for wires and the like, comprising a ll'lQt-tll strip bent upon itself to form an open central loop whereby it may be rotated, and a pair of arms branching from such loop and wound over each other at their inner ends; said arms cxtending upwardly away from the loop at an angle to the horizontal and in such directions as virtually to occupy a cmnmon vertical plane to which the plane of the loop perpendicular; both arms having hooks attheir free outer ends for engagement at the same time with the wire. such hooks heing arranged at a slantto the axis of rotation of the loop.

3. A stretching device for wires and the like, comprising a metal strip hent upon itself to form an open central loop whereby it may be rotated, and a pair of arms branching from such loop and wound over each other at their inner ends; said arms extending upwardly away from the loop at an angle to the horizontal and in such directions as virtually to occupy a common vertical plane to which the plane of the loop is perpendicular: both arms having hooks at their tree outer ends for engagement at the same time with the wire, such hooks being arranged at a slant to the axis of rotation of the loop and having arms of unequal lengths.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature.

LOUIS EUGENE GLEMENCET. 

